Jacksonville 2013 Emergency Preparedness Guide

2013 Emergency Preparedness Guide

Duval County Emergency Management

J A X R E A D Y . C O M2 0 1 3 E M E R G E N C Y P R E P A R E D N E S S G U I D E2

Dear Friends:

The best defense against an emergency is being prepared. While hurri-cane season officially begins June 1, it’s important that you plan in ad-vance to ensure your safety year-round against all potential hazards. Iencourage you to explore this informative guide and make use of thetools it offers to help you stay safe this hurricane season and through-out the year.

Should disaster strike our community, Duval County Emergency Man-agement is your resource for up-to-date, critical information. VisitJaxReady.com for severe weather updates, and to learn in advanceabout emergency preparedness measures specific to our area. You canalso sign up for Jacksonville’s emergency telephone notification system.

Don’t wait until the forecast is threatening – take the time now toidentify the evacuation routes in your community, as well as the desig-nated shelters in your area. Be sure your hurricane kit is fully

stocked, and most importantly, developand discuss a disaster plan with yourfamily.

Knowing what to do before, during andafter an emergency is a vital part ofbeing prepared, and could make all thedifference when seconds count. Let’swork together to ensure all of our citi-zens are safe this hurricane season andthroughout the year.

Sincerely,

Mayor Alvin Brown

M A Y O R ’ S M E S S A G E

This guide would not have been possible without the generous support of our two media sponsors:

Additional resources and content provided by these agencies:

2013 Emergency Preparedness GuideProject Manager: Alex Pellom (Duval County Emergency Management)Design: John Bracey (Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department) and Barbara Beresford (First Coast News)

J A X R E A D Y . C O M2 0 1 3 E M E R G E N C Y P R E P A R E D N E S S G U I D E

W H Y T H I S G U I D E I S I M P O R T A N T

3

This is my 32nd hurricaneseason on the First Coast.

Maybe you’re a native, or per-haps 2013 is your first hurri-cane season. Either way, thebest way to lower yourstress level about the threatof tropical activity is to beprepared before the firststorm is ever named. And totruly be prepared, you haveto know what you arepreparing for.

That is the purpose of this 2013 Emergency Preparedness Guide.

Most of us can start by asking this question: “Will I stay or will I gowhen a storm threat materializes?”

If you live in an area that can be flooded by a storm surge, I would rec-ommend placing yourself in the “go” category. If we are predicting adirect hit, you will most likely be asked to evacuate.

Please make a plan now, and consider the following:

• What do you need to protect your property?

• What will you take with you?

• Who will you notify that you will be gone?

Where you decide to evacuate should be dependent on where ourFirst Coast News team is forecasting the hurricane will go. If you arenot concerned about the storm surge impacting you – and rememberthat most of our rivers and creeks are in some way connected to theocean – then you might elect to stay.

To stay, however, means you need to prepare for losing utilities andpossibly being stuck in your home for days, perhaps longer. The sim-plest advice is to make sure you have anything you would need forcamping at home. If you don’t camp, keep the following in mind:

• If we have winds over 70 miles per hour, you could be without power for days.

• You will need batteries.

• You will need food and water.

Also remember that even a tropical depression can cause major flood-ing from rainfall, so you need to prepare for the possibility that yourlocal roads may be flooded. Every storm is different and has its owncharacteristics, but having a solid checklist now could save lives in thefuture.

Hurricane Season Has Arrived. Are You Ready?

Tim DeeganChief MeteorologistFirst Coast News

Although this guide’s distribution coincides with the beginning of Hur-ricane Season, it offers much more than just details about hurricanes.It’s about being ready for all types of potential hazards that can impactNortheast Florida and Southeast Georgia.

Let’s start with the conditions of a dry season. It starts in late Octo-ber and continues into May. This can make for great weather, but asthe months go on, the dry weather can lead to wildfires. Last year,more than 3,000 acres burned in the greater Jacksonville area alone.Some homes were destroyed and many more were threatened.Smoke was a major factor in reducing driving visibility and air quality.

From late winter into spring, severe thunderstorms, some with torna-does, arrived despite the dry weather. Some of these storms formedin less than 30 minutes and moved more than 60 miles per hour.

Last year, before the official start of the tropical season, two namedstorms formed. Tropical Storm Beryl was a direct hit and arrived asone of the strongest May storms ever. Beryl’s effects closed numerousbusinesses and lead to the cancellation of many Memorial Day events.

Ports were also closed and more than 50,000 people lost power. Ourarea bridges once again drew focus to the reality of our vulnerability

as winds gusting to more than 70 miles per hour forced a closure ofthe Mathews Bridge.

Beryl helped with rainfall initially, but the storm eventually set thestage for a major flood event known as Tropical Storm Debby. Though“just” a tropical storm, she arrived a few weeks after Beryl, and thecombination of the two produced 27 inches of rain in Jacksonville.

Thus, we had half of our 2012 rainfall in just five weeks!

Debby alone drenched some areas with 2 feet of rain. Some of thehardest hit areas included the St. Mary’s and Suwannee rivers. LakeCity and Live Oak experienced the worst flooding since 1964, whenHurricane Dora made a direct hit on the First Coast.

Fortunately for us, we did not get hit by a hurricane last year, butthese incidents should serve as reminders that we must be ready asanother hurricane season unfolds.

2 0 1 2 R E V I S I T E D

2012 Produced Plenty of Weather WoesLast year, Northeast Florida experienced a tropical storm in May, record rainfall, serious flooding and wildland fires.


Tropical storms Beryl and Debby

combined to dump 27 inches of rain

on Jacksonville in just five weeks.

S T O R M N A M E S F O R 2 0 1 3Right on cue, the tropical waters are heating up, and upper-level

winds are decreasing. These two factors are the driving force behind

the potential punch of the 2013 Hurricane Season.

The easiest part of making storm predictions is foreseeing the in-

evitable formation of tropical cyclones throughout the season. This

year, meteorologists expect our oceans to be warmer than average.

Combine that with the upper level winds, and tropical cyclones are

more likely to form, and with greater intensity. However, the tough

part is trying to determine where and how severe the impact will be.

Defining the hurricane season outlook is an attempt to determine

whether the amount of energy within tropical cyclones will be above

or below normal and their frequency. This involves monitoring indi-

cators all over the globe.

Normal seasons used to consist of 11 named storms, with six be-

coming hurricanes, two of those major. This season, according to nu-

merous experts, could deliver twice what we previously considered

average.

Who will actually be hit and how hard? The cone of concern is your

best predictor. But before those cones become part of the forecast,

please get prepared and be ready.

H U R R I C A N E S E A S O N O U T L O O K

J A X R E A D Y . C O M2 0 1 3 E M E R G E N C Y P R E P A R E D N E S S G U I D E 5

Andrea

Barry

Chantal

Dorian

Erin

Fernand

Gabrielle

Humberto

Ingrid

Jerry

Karen

Lorenzo

Melissa

Nestor

Olga

Pablo

Rebekah

Sebastian

Tanya

Van

Wendy

‘Watch’ vs. ‘Warning’ DefinedHurricane Watch: Hurricane conditions are a threat within48 hours. Review your hurricane plans. Get ready to act if a warning isissued, and stay informed.

Hurricane Warning: Hurricane conditions are expectedwithin 36 hours. Complete your storm preparations and leave thearea if directed to do so by authorities.

Advance Preparations

• Know if you live in an evacuation zone. Decide where to go ifordered to evacuate. Have a backup plan ready.

• Put together a disaster kit as recommended on page 11.

• Plan for pets. See page 10 for details.

• Teach children how to call for help and to memorize importantfamily information (family name, address and phone numbers).Establish a meeting point if you get separated.

• Learn about your community’s hurricane response plan. Becomefamiliar with routes to local shelters, register family members withspecial medical needs (details on next page) and make plans for thecare of your pets.

Register for Emergency NotificationsBy registering with Duval County Emergency Management, you can re-ceive automated phone notifications in the event of a potential orpending emergency, such as severe weather warnings. The system willautomatically contact Duval County residents who have published res-idential phone numbers and those who have registered. To registeryour Duval County cell phone, unpublished residential or businessphone numbers for emergency notifications, visit www.jaxready.comor call 630-CITY (2489). Residents outside Duval County should con-tact their local Emergency Management offices to learn if they havesimilar services. See regional contact information on pages 22 and 23.

As the Storm Approaches• Listen to a NOAA Weather Radio for critical information from the

National Weather Service (NWS).

• Check your disaster supplies. Replace or restock as needed.

• Bring in anything that can be tossed about by the wind.

• Close windows, doors and hurricane shutters. If you don’t have shut-ters, close and board up windows and doors with plywood.

• Set your refrigerator/freezer to the coldest setting. Keep themclosed as much as possible to preserve food if the power goes out.

• Turn off any propane tanks.

• Unplug small appliances.

• Fill your vehicle’s gas tank.

• Obey evacuation orders.

B E F O R E T H E S T O R M


Duval County Emergency Management maintains a registry of clientswho have been identified as persons with Special Medical Needs.These individuals require assistance during evacuations and sheltering.

What is a Special Needs Client? A person qualifying for special needs is someone who is medically de-pendent on electricity, such as life-supporting equipment. This mayalso include a person with regular need for assistance with medica-tions and/or observation, dementia, chronic conditions that requireassistance and persons with contagious health conditions that requireminimal precautions or isolation (rare in shelter).

How to RegisterAny person who meets the above criteria and plans to use a publicshelter during an evacuation should register by completing the formlocated at www.JaxReady.com or by contacting Duval County Emer-gency Management at (904) 630-2472.

Please note that a new registry is created each year, starting in Janu-ary. It is important to remember that each client must re-register every year to remain in the system. Each individual'sregistration form is reviewed by a health care professional and catego-rized by the assistance required. Registrants are then assigned to ashelter, hospital, and transportation agency, if applicable. Individuals willbe notified by mail with information regarding what to bring to theshelter.

Transportation & Special NeedsIf you require transportation to the Special Needs Shelter, pleasemake contact with your normal transportation provider to advise

them that you will need transportation to a shelter. The EmergencyOperations Center (EOC) will be assisting with the coordination ofthe different transportation providers. The EOC maintains a list ofthose special needs clients who require transportation during an evac-uation. This list is shared with the transportation providers for sched-uling. It is important that you are ready when they arrive since theseproviders may be transporting a large number of people. If you arriveat a shelter by special transportation, you will be returned home inthe same manner.

What to Expect at the Shelter?Special medical needs shelters are refuges of last resort, intended tohouse residents with special medical needs. Shelters may be crowdedand uncomfortable. There is no guarantee of electricity and there maybe no privacy. Amenities are limited to basic nursing assistance, first-aid care, bathroom facilities, food and water. An evacuation kit shouldbe prepared to make the stay more comfortable. Some contents ofthis kit should include, special dietary needs, important paperwork,and comfort items.

What Happens During Evacuation?Special Needs clients requiring transportation will be contacted byphone to coordinate a pickup time. Please be ready when transporta-tion arrives and make sure you have packed all essential items. Care-givers and/or family members are welcome to accompany SpecialNeeds clients to the shelter.

Once the storm has passed, individuals are returned home by thesame mode of transportation in which they arrived. Program officialswill verify that the individual's residence is safe and habitable prior tohis or her return.

Special Needs Clients Should Register



Each client must re-register every year to remain in the system.

2 0 1 3 E M E R G E N C Y P R E P A R E D N E S S G U I D E

Duval County has three types of shelters that may be opened duringan incident: General Population, Special Needs, and Pet-Friendly. Someof these shelters are co-located at a single facility. Most of these shel-ters are managed by the American Red Cross, while the Duval CountyHealth Department is responsible for the Special Needs Shelters. Cityof Jacksonville’s Animal Care and Protective Services facilitates thePet-Friendly Shelters.

If you anticipate relocating to a Special Needs Shelter, emergency man-agement officials encourage pre-registration as detailed on the previ-ous page. Pre-registration is not required to take refuge in a GeneralPopulation or Pet-Friendly Shelter, but it is important that you plan forwhere you will go and what you will need. For information on whichtypes of animals allowed in a Pet-Friendly Shelter, please visitwww.jaxready.com.

Local emergency management officials will determine which shelterswill be opened during an incident and will communicate this informa-tion through pre-existing media relationships and through social mediaoutlets like Twitter and Facebook.

What to BringIf you choose to go to a shelter, regardless of the type, there arecertain items you should remember to take with you.

• First aid kit

• Identification

• Food and water

• Special diet food

• Over-the-counter medicine (aspirin, antacids, decongestants)

• Prescriptions in original bottles (one to two-week supply)

• Baby food, diapers and other baby supplies

• Cards, games, books, snacks

• One complete change of clothing

• Bedding: blankets, sleeping bags, pillows, air mattresses

• Toiletries/personal hygiene items

• Flashlights and extra batteries

• Battery-operated radio

• Phone charger

Note: Before going to a shelter, secure your home and eat somethingif time permits.

A shelter is a place of safety for those whose homes are unsafe. Thereis very little privacy in a shelter, and the conditions are often crowded.For health and safety reasons: NO smoking, firearms, weapons, or al-cohol are allowed in ANY shelters.

8

S H E L T E R I N F O R M A T I O N

The American Red Cross needs

volunteers to help staff shelters during

a time of disaster. Call 904-358-8091.


The devastation of natural disasters like flooding in the Midwest, the

2010 earthquake in Haiti, and Hurricane Sandy still haunt us through

powerful images of destruction and stories from survivors. While un-

fortunate, we cannot overlook the high-risk regions that carry a

greater potential to experience natural disasters. For Florida residents

and visitors, each June marks the beginning of hurricane season and

prompts us to take precau-

tions for tropical cyclones

and their effects: widespread

flooding and tornadoes.

Public radio has a long history of serving the millions of citizens and

visitors throughout Florida during times of crisis, including severe

weather threats. In 1999, the Florida Department of Transportation in-

stalled road signs along statewide evacuation routes noting Florida’s

public radio stations as the “go to” media outlets for the public to tune

to for emergency management information.

As a delivery medium, radio is of particular importance during an

emergency. Prior to the landfall of Hurricane Sandy, FEMA Director

Craig Fugate encouraged residents of the affected areas to make sure

they had battery or crank-up radios, saying that during a significant

weather crisis, “radio would be the only reliable source of information.”

Media platforms, including televisions, cell phones and the Internet, can

be greatly disrupted during a hurricane, which typically takes down

power. Also, cell and smart phones can be vulnerable if cell towers are

damaged or there are limited means of

charging cell phones. When power is

lost, people tend to go back to the very

basic way of getting information, and

public radio is a trusted and reliable resource that provides access to

much needed information.

Public radio provides a vital voice during times of crisis in many ways.

Public service is the core of public radio’s mission. Our infrastructure

and programming flexibility allow us to operate whenever necessary:

before, during and after an event for as long as needed to provide criti-

cal information to the citizens of Florida.

A Vital Voice in Times of Crisis

P U B L I C R A D I O I N A D I S A S T E R

Public radio is a trusted and reliable

source of information in times of crisis.

Consider All Family Members The best way to protect your household from the effects of a disasteris to have a plan. If you are a pet owner, that plan must include yourpets. Being prepared can save their lives.

If you must evacuate, the most important thing you can do to protectyour pets is to evacuate them, too. If it's not safe for you to stay be-hind, then it's not safe to leave pets behind either.

In the event you choose not to evacuate, plan for your pet to stay inyour identified safe room and include your pet disaster supply kit andother resources to accommodate them.

Know a SafePlace to TakeYour Pets• Unless otherwise identified as

“Pet-Friendly,” local and statehealth and safety regulationsdo not permit the Red Crossto allow pets in disaster shel-ters. (Service animals are al-lowed in all Duval Countyshelters). See “Pet-FriendlyShelters” section on this page.

• Contact hotels and motelsoutside your local area tocheck their policies on ac-cepting pets and restrictionson number, size and species.Ask if "no pet" policies can bewaived in an emergency. Keep a list of "pet friendly" places, includingphone numbers, with your disaster supplies.Visit www.petswelcome.com for a listing.

• Ask friends, relatives or others outside the affected area whetherthey could shelter your animals.

• Make a list of boarding facilities and veterinarians who could shelteranimals in an emergency, and include 24-hour phone numbers.

Pet-Friendly SheltersPet-friendly shelter locations will be identified in the event of an evac-uation and released via the media.

The following animals will be allowed: dogs, cats, ferrets, pocket pets(such as hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs), rabbits and birds (no exotics).No reptiles will be allowed in the shelters.

You may register three pets per family. All pets must have proof ofvaccination and registration, be properly crated/caged and maintainedby their owners. No pets may be dropped off. Certain supplies mustaccompany your pet(s) to the shelter. See list at www.coj.net.

Pet EmergencyPreparedness KitAssemble a Pet Emergency Pre-paredness Kit. Keep your pet’s es-sential supplies in sturdycontainers that can be easily ac-cessed and carried (a duffle bag orcovered trash containers, for ex-ample).

Your pet emergency preparednesskit should include:

• Medications, medical records, proof of current shots (stored in awaterproof container) and a firstaid kit.

• Sturdy leashes, harnesses, and/orcarriers to transport pets safely

and ensure that your animals can't escape.

• Current photos of your pets in case they get lost.

• Food, drinkable water, bowls, cat litter/pan, manual can opener.

• Information on feeding schedules, medical conditions, behavior prob-lems, and the name and number of your veterinarian in case you haveto foster or board your pets.

• Pet bed or toys, if easily transportable.

P E T S I N A N E M E R G E N C Y

2 0 1 3 E M E R G E N C Y P R E P A R E D N E S S G U I D E10

Build a KitBeing prepared also means being equipped with the proper suppliesyou may need in the event of an emergency. Keep your supplies in aneasy-to-carry emergency preparedness kit that you can use at homeor take with you in case you must evacuate.

At a minimum, you should have these supplies:

• Water – one gallon per person, per day(72-hour supply for evacuation, two-week supply for home)

• Food – non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items(72-hour supply for evacuation, two-week supply for home)

• Flashlights

• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio)

• Extra batteries

• First aid kit – Anatomy of a First Aid Kit

• Medications (seven-day supply) and medical items

• Multi-purpose tool

• Sanitation and personal hygiene items

• Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent med-ical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports,birth certificates, insurance policies)

• Cell phone with charger(s)

• Family and emergency contact information

• Extra cash

• Emergency blanket

• Map(s) of the area

Consider the needs of all family members and add supplies to yourkit. Suggested items to help meet additional needs are:

• Medical supplies (hearing aids with extra batteries, glasses, contactlenses, syringes, etc.)

• Activities and games for children

• Baby supplies (bottles, formula, baby food, diapers)

• Pet supplies (collar, leash, ID, food, water carrier, bowls)

Make a Plan• Identify responsibilities for each member of your household and

plan to work together as a team.

• If a family member is in the military, plan how you would respondif they were deployed.

• Plan what to do in case you are separated during an emergency.

• Choose an out-of-area emergency contact person. It may be easierto text or call long distance if local phone lines are overloaded orout of service. Everyone should have emergency contact informa-tion in writing or saved in their cell phones.

• Decide where you will go and choose a primary and alternateroute to your destination. You may choose to go to a hotel/motel,stay with friends or relatives in a safe location or go to an evacua-tion shelter, if necessary.

When You Evacuate• Grab your supply kit and take it with you.

• Lock the windows and doors.

• Turn off electricity, water and gas at the main valves and switches.

• Never attempt to turn utilities back on after returning home.Call the utility company if necessary.

• Contact friends or relatives to share your evacuation plan

• During a mandatory evacuation, all residents of manufacturedhomes must evacuate for all hurricane force winds and seek safeshelter.

When You Stay at Home• Select an interior room or hallway on the first floor with no win-

dows to shelter during the storm.

• Keep your disaster supply kit with you.

• Stay inside, away from windows.

• Wait for official word that the danger has passed. Don’t be fooledby the storm’s eye.



2 0 1 3 E M E R G E N C Y P R E P A R E D N E S S G U I D E1 2

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Using PublicTransportationDuring an EvacuationIn the event of a hurricane, when the city issuesan evacuation order, the Jacksonville Transporta-tion Authority will begin emergency evacuationservices. This includes JTA Connexion and regu-lar JTA routes. For safety, JTA services will bediscontinued before the storm hits the area.

For Those With Any Special NeedsDuring an evacuation, JTA provides transporta-tion to residents with medical or special needsthrough regular JTA bus service and JTA Con-nexion. Pre-registration for this service is re-quired. Take action now. Call 630-CITY (2489)to register for this medical/special needs evacu-ation service. Anyone who needs JTA’smedical/special needs evacuation assis-tance and transportation must registerwith the city each year.

If You Cannot EvacuateIf an evacuation order is issued and you do nothave your own personal vehicle, or you cannotleave the area with family members or friends, JTA provides evacueesfree transportation to open public shelters only. You can go to any JTAbus stop and wait to be picked up. Once a bus arrives, you will then betransferred to a shelter shuttle, which will take you to a public shelter.Evacuees using JTA public transportation cannot choose their shelterdestination.

Areas Not Part of Regular RoutesIf there is no JTA bus service in your area, call 630-CITY (2489)for instructions on evacuating.

For more information:If you don’t know where a bus stop is or if you do not know whether you have busservice in your area, please call 630-CITY (2489) for assistance.

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P U B L I C T R A N S P O R T A T I O N

Generator SafetyJEA recommends that you not use a generator unless you know howto use it safely. If you do use a generator, do so outside your home in awell-ventilated area. Fumes from a running generator can be deadly.

Electrical SafetyIf you plan to evacuate, turn off the circuitbreakers for the water heater, the power toyour home at the main electrical panel, and yourwater at the home's main service valve.

If you rely on electricity to operate necessarymedical equipment, make arrangements now toensure your safety in the event of a loss ofpower. You should also contact Duval CountyEmergency Management at (904) 630-2472.

Should your home or business sustain water orflood damage, consult a private electrician to de-termine if it is safe to restore power.

Please call 9-1-1 immediately to report adowned electric line. STAY AWAY from alldowned power lines because they may be ener-gized. If you get close enough to an energizedpower line, you risk being electrocuted – evenwithout actually touching the wire.

JEA’s Restoration ProcessOur plan focuses on first returning power tothe facilities that deliver power to the largestnumber of affected customers. First, we repair damage to the JEA facili-ties that produce power and the lines that carry it from our plants.Then, we focus on restoring power to customers who provide essen-tial services to your community, such as hospitals, police, and fire sta-tions. Next, we repair damage that will return power to the greatestnumber of customers in the least amount of time. Once major repairsare done, we begin working to restore individuals and small groups ofcustomers. We then begin the process of going street by street andhouse by house to make the final repairs to restore everyone's power.

Water and Sewer SafetyStay away from any raw sewage and contact JEA at (904) 665-6000 toreport sewer overflows.

If boil water notices are declared in your neigh-borhood and you cannot boil water, use regular(not concentrated) bleach to purify water fordrinking, as specified by the American RedCross.

• Add 16 drops of liquid chlorine bleach per gal-lon of water, or eight drops per 2-liter bottle ofwater. Stir to mix. A sodium hypochlorite con-centration of 5.25 to 6 percent should be theonly active ingredient in the bleach. Thereshould not be any added soap or fragrances.

• Let stand 30 minutes.

• If it smells of chlorine, you can use it. If it doesnot smell of chlorine, add 16 more drops ofchlorine bleach per gallon of water (or eightdrops per 2-liter bottle of water), let stand 30minutes, and smell it again. If it smells of chlo-rine, you can use it. If it still does not smell ofchlorine, discard it and find another source ofwater.

Continue to use bottled or disinfected waterfor drinking and cooking until JEA's water sup-ply has been declared safe.

JEA Updates and CommunicationsJEA will communicate via jea.com, Twitter (@newsfromjea), Facebook(NewsFromJEA) and the media during any type of emergency. In thecase of a hurricane, please refrain from calling during the brunt of thestorm to report an outage. JEA crews and personnel will ride out thestorm for safety purposes until danger has passed. Once our damageassessment is done and restoration begins, JEA will communicate whencalls to report outages can start via the channels listed above.


U T I L I T I E S

When the Power Goes Out

Flooding Can Happen AnywhereFlooding is the one natural hazard that affects all 50 states. Floodingmay occur due to an accumulation of rainwater on saturated groundand paved surfaces such as streets. It can also occur in rivers when theflow rate exceeds the capacity of the river channel, particularly atbends in the waterway. Some floods develop slowly, while others suchas flash floods can develop in just a few minutes and without visiblesigns of rain. The primary effects of flooding include damage to build-ings and other structures, including bridges, sewerage systems, road-ways, and canals. Loss of life can also occur.

Turn Around, Don’t DrownAnnually, more deaths occur due to flooding than from any other se-vere weather hazard. According to the Centers for Disease Control,more than half of all flood-related drownings occur once a vehicle en-ters hazardous flood water. The next highest percentage of flood-re-lated deaths is due to walking into flood waters. Flood waters can bevery swift and powerful. Many of the deaths occur in automobiles asthey are swept downstream. Of these drownings, many are preventa-ble, but too many people continue to drive around the barriers thatwarn you the road is flooded.

National Flood Insurance ProgramIt is recommended to identify if you live in a flood zone and to deter-mine your flood insurance requirements. Most homeowners' insur-ance, even if it includes a hurricane policy, does NOT cover flooddamage. There is a 30-day waiting period for a flood policy to go intoeffect after it is purchased. Call the National Flood Insurance Program(NFIP) at 1-800-767-4341 or go online at www.floodsmart.gov.

Debris ManagementAs the community begins to rebuild following a disaster, there is likelyto be a large collection of debris in the area. From refrigerators thathave become contaminated, to tree limbs on your roof or blockingyour roads, as well as downed power lines or spilled gasoline or homedetergents and chemical additives that have entered the water supply,this is all considered debris.

Report DamageProperty owners are encouraged to call 630-CITY (2489) to report theextent of damage to their property and the amount of debris in thearea. The City of Jacksonville needs to know about the extent of dam-ages in the community, so officials can contact the State of Florida andFEMA to start the declaration process, if the damage is severe enoughto warrant a Presidential Declaration. Unless this information ise-mailed or called into 630-CITY, you may not receive the additionalassistance you may be eligible for following a significant disaster.When in doubt, call!

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A F T E R T H E S T O R M

What Do I Do After a Hurricane? • Continue monitoring to a NOAA Weather Radio or the local news

for the latest updates.

• Stay alert for extended rainfall and subsequent flooding, even afterthe hurricane or tropical storm has ended.

• If you evacuated, return home only when officials say it is safe.

• Drive only if necessary and avoid flooded roads and washed outbridges.

• Keep away from loose or dangling power lines and report themimmediately to 9-1-1.

• Stay out of any building that has water around it.

• Inspect your home for damage. Take pictures of damage, both of thebuilding and its contents, for insurance purposes.

• Do NOT use candles in the dark; instead, use flashlights.

• Avoid drinking or preparing food with tap water until you are sureit’s not contaminated.

• Check refrigerated food for spoilage. If in doubt, throw it out.

• Wear protective clothing and be cautious when cleaning up.

• Watch animals closely and keep them under your direct control.

• Use the telephone only for emergency calls.

As you rebuild ...

• Secure double entry doors at the top and the bottom.

• Strengthen existing garage doors to improve the wind resistance,particularly double-wide garage doors.

• Protect windows with permanent storm shutters or 1/2-inch marineplywood that is pre-cut to fit your doors and windows.

• Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts to preventflooding and unnecessary pressure on the awnings.

• Select trees that are less prone to uprooting to replace damagedones. A landscaping professional can give you excellent advice.

• Identify a place to store lawn furniture, toys, gardening tools and trashcans that is away from stairs and exits to prevent them from beingmoved by high winds and becoming missiles.

Ask a professional to ...

• Ensure roof sheathing is properly installed.

• Ensure end gables are securely fastened to the rest of the roof.

• Fasten the roof to the walls with hurricane straps.

• Elevate your home if it is near the coast and subject to flooding fromstorm surge.

Food Safety During Outages Power outages of any length can be frustrating and troublesome, andprolonged ones can also be dangerous. When your refrigerator goesout, special food safety measures must be taken.

Perishable foods, including milk, meat and eggs, should not be storedabove 40 degrees for more than two hours. If a power outage is twohours or less, you don’t need to be concerned, but you should knowhow to save your food when the refrigerator is out for longer periodsof time. Being prepared can help. By planning ahead, you can save yourperishables and safeguard your family’s health.

What Do I Need? • One or more coolers. Styrofoam coolers can do an excellent job.

• Shelf-stable foods, such as canned goods and powdered or boxedmilk. These can be eaten cold or heated on the grill.

• A digital quick-response thermometer. You can quickly check the in-ternal temperatures of food for safety.

What Should I Do? • Do not open the refrigerator or freezer. An unopened refrigerator

will keep foods cold enough for a couple of hours at least. A freezerthat is half full will hold for up to 24 hours and a full freezer for 48hours. Instead, eat shelf-stable foods.

• If it looks like the power outage will be for more than two to fourhours, pack the important items in your refrigerator, such as milk,dairy products, meats, fish, poultry, eggs, and left-overs into yourcooler surrounded by ice. Keep temperature at or below 40 degrees.Throw away any items that have been exposed to temperaturesgreater than 40 degrees for more than two hours.

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What is Recovery?Recovery consists of restoring and rebuilding the schools, roads, busi-nesses and livelihoods after a disaster. The reason we plan for recov-ery is so that all of the partners involved – the school district, the city,the Beaches, the local businesses, and others – can ensure that we willaddress everyone’s concerns after a disaster. Every person has a voicein recovery. Recovery is not only a chance to return to normal, but achance to make normal better.

As part of this process, the City of Jacksonville identifies short- andlong-term alternative housing for residents and workers who maycome to Jacksonville to help rebuild after a disaster. Presidential Disas-ter Declarations open the door for federal funds to help the people,property, businesses, and governments to recover after a disaster. Infor-mation on Individual Assistance and Small Business Administration dis-aster loans can be found in this guide as well as online atwww.jaxready.com.

Governments, museums, community centers, low-income housing,homeless shelters, and many more facilities are eligible for Public Assis-tance funds after a disaster. However when working through thisprocess, remember all damages must be from a declared disaster, andthey must not be due to deferred maintenance. For a complete listingof facilities eligible for Public Assistance funds, please visitwww.fema.gov.

How to Apply for FEMA IndividualAssistance After a DisasterFEMA currently operates a program that will assist in helping the citi-zens of Jacksonville recover after a disaster called the Individual Assis-tance Program. This program provides crisis counseling, disasterunemployment assistance, disaster legal services, and housing resourcesamong other services. To be eligible for FEMA Individual Assistance,the President must make a disaster declaration authorizing it. This willbe publicized. To apply for assistance, either visit a Disaster RecoveryCenter or go online to www.disasterassistance.gov.

Before applying for assistance, be sure to have a Social Security Num-ber and be a U.S. Citizen, Non-Citizen National, or Qualified Alien. Youshould also have copies of your insurance documents and the coveragethey provide, information on the damages sustained to your property,your family’s total annual household income (before taxes) at the timeof the disaster, and contact information for where you can be reached.As part of the screening process for Individual Assistance, you mustalso complete a Small Business Administration (SBA) assistance pack-age. FEMA will not process an Individual Assistance claim without theSBA application package.

Additionally, homeowners and renters may be eligible to apply for SBAdisaster loans. For homeowners, these loans may be used to replace orrepair your primary residence. For renters, these personal propertyloans may be used to replace or repair items such as clothing, furni-ture, cars, and appliances that were damaged or destroyed during thedeclared disaster. Visit www.sba.gov for more information on homeand personal property loans.

R E C O V E R Y


Resiliency When the Disaster is Not Presidentially Declared

Some disasters, though devastating, will not meet the federal require-ments to be a Presidentially Declared Disaster. This is when we needto recover from the disaster on our own, whether “we” is a local gov-ernment, a small business, a large corporation, or a local resident.

Regardless of whether you own the damaged property, you are re-sponsible for documenting the damages and submitting the damages toyour landlord and/or insurance company. While the physical propertymay be destroyed, you can still receive financial reimbursement for thevalue of that property. Prior to the disaster, you should gather all yourimportant documents (such as birth and marriage certificates, deeds,loan information, bank account information, etc.) and photocopy them.Store these documents in a safe place. If you evacuate, bring the docu-ments with you. You will need these documents to support yourclaims.

Personal resiliency is the ability to return to normal after a disaster.Planning for disasters, making sure you have enough food, water, medi-cines, and copies of important documents, and documenting the dam-ages on your property will not only help you to recover faster, it willhelp you to recover stronger.

Business Recovery As a business owner, what would you do if your business had 2 feet ofwater in it? What if all the roads to get to your building were blocked?What if you were out of power for several days or weeks? How willyou resume business activities if your business suffered as a result of adisaster?

Critical to restoring Jacksonville’s economy is the business community.Every business, whether you have a staff of 500 or one, should have aBusiness Continuity Plan to recover after a disaster. Business Continu-ity Plans identify how you will resume your business’s activities in theevent of a disaster. Topics covered include if you can continue operat-ing from your location, if you need to buy a generator for your busi-ness, how you will make sure your insured losses are documentedproperly, and how you will recover.

In the event of a disaster, your business may be eligible for Small Busi-ness Administration (SBA) disaster loans. These loans may be used torepair or replace real property, machinery, equipment, fixtures, inven-tory, and leasehold improvements.

After a disaster, there will be a separate declaration made for SBA Dis-aster Assistance, in addition to the FEMA Individual Assistance and Pub-lic Assistance. Visit www.sba.gov for more information on home andpersonal property loans and www.jaxready.com for more informationon business continuity and recovery.

Duval Prepares — A Public/Private PartnershipDuval Prepares is an innovative public/private partnership. It includes representatives from all five municipalities in Duval County (AtlanticBeach, Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach, Baldwin) as well as local businesses, organizations and associations. Its mission is tomake Duval County disaster resistant by preventing or reducing the personal and economic loss from natural or human-made hazardsthrough a partnership between government, businesses, organizations, associations and citizens.

Duval Prepares identifies mitigation projects to be added to Duval County’s Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS) and assists in ranking projectsfor prioritization and funding. Past projects include assisting Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach to improve their storm water drainage, pro-tect fire stations from wind-blown objects, and improving other critical infrastructure sites throughout Duval County.

Duval Prepares also assists in adding residential property projects to the LMS. If eligible, the homeowner must elect to perform a flood miti-gation project under one of these programs. Duval Prepares meets on a quarterly basis with meeting notifications posted in City Hall at 117W. Duval St. For more information, visit www.jaxready.com.

R E C O V E R Y


S O C I A L M E D I A I N A D I S A S T E R

Social media plays a tremendous role in both the preparation for, reac-tion and recovery following disastrous events such as severe weather,natural and manmade disasters.

New and emerging technologies offer applications such as YouTube andVine, photo sharing technologies like Instagram, and social networkingservices such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Information and images can be shared instantly among thousands ofpeople simultaneously – in most cases, quicker than a broadcast onradio or TV. In emergencies, news sources like First Coast News andWJCT count on your information and photos to help tell a story.

Using a hurricane as an example, social media can help prepare resi-dents for what is to come and how to cope. Emergency managementoffices can immediately relay information on when to evacuate andhow. When power is out, social media may be the only availablesource for news, updates and information. If you lose power and can-not receive First Coast News on your TV, broadcasts will continue onselect Clear Channel radio stations. When the incident is over, utilitycompanies can tell residents when to expect power to return.

Make sure that you are connected through your social media accountsto friends and family. You can let them know where you are and thatyou are safe during emergency situations.

When using Twitter, hashtags are a very valuable tool. Hashtags pro-vide a means for grouping messages. One hashtag that will be usedduring any incident will be #JaxReady. Below are some trusted socialmedia resources that you can access today to help you prepare. Follow,“like” or bookmark these sites, profiles and handles today.

As precautionary measures, load the GPS on your electronic deviceswith evacuation routes; load Twitter handles and “like” Facebook ac-counts of news organizations, government, emergency and first-respon-der organizations and utility companies. You do not want to drainvaluable power during a blackout surfing the web and social media sitesto gather this information.

To truly remain connected, make sure your technologies (cell phones,tablets, etc.) have backup power sources to withstand power outagesand the inability to charge batteries. External battery packs can be pur-chased in the electronics sections of local stores.

Organization Description of Services Twitter FacebookDuval County EM Emergency Management @JaxReady N/A

City of Jacksonville Government @CityofJax CityofJacksonville

Jacksonville Sheriff ’s Office Law Enforcement @jsopio JacksonvilleSheriff ’sOffice

JEA Utilities @newsfromJEA NewsFromJEA

First Coast News News @FCN2Go FirstCoastNews

WJCT (Public Radio) News @WJCTJax WJCTPublicBroadcasting

The Florida Times-Union News @JaxDotCom The-Florida-Times-Union

Federal Emergency Management Emergency Management @FEMA FEMA

National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather @usnoaagov usnoaagov

U.S. National Hurricane Center Weather @nhc_atlantic US.NOAA.NationalHurricaneCenter

The Salvation Army Emergency Services @salvationarmy SalvationArmyUSA

American Red Cross, NE FL Emergency Services @RedCrossNEFL RedCrossNEFL

Social Media Information for Local Organizations


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Emergency NumbersCity of Jacksonville Information.......................................630-CITY (2489)

Florida Emergency Information Hotline ...........................(800) 342-3557

National Weather Service (Jacksonville) ...........................(904) 741-4370

Northeast Florida American Red Cross ...........................(904) 358-8091

U.S. Naval Services.................................................................(800) 849-6024

Traffic Conditions on Major Roads

in Northeast Florida ................................................(800) 749-2967 or 511

Price Gouging.............................................(866) 9-NO-SCAM (966-7226)

Utilities:JEA .............................................................................................(904) 665-6000

Florida Power & Light...................................(800)4-OUTAGE (468-8243)

Florida Public Utilities ...........................................................(904) 261-3663

Beaches Electric......................................................................(904) 247-6171

Comcast ...................................................................................(904) 374-8000

AT&T.........................................................................................(877) 737-2478

Shelters:Duval County Emergency Management (630-2472), 630-CITY(2489)

or the Northeast Florida American Red Cross (358-8091).

WebsitesCity of Jacksonville ......................................................................www.coj.net

............................................................www.facebook.com/cityofjacksonville

Duval County Emergency Management......................www.jaxready.com

American Red Cross........................................................www.redcross.org

.....................................................................www.redcross.org/fl/jacksonville

First Coast News..................................................www.firstcoastnews.com

The Florida Times-Union..........................................www.jacksonville.com

Federal Emergency Management Agency ...........................www.fema.gov

U.S. Department of Homeland Security ............................www.ready.gov

Florida Division of Emergency Management.....www.floridadisaster.org

JEA.................................................................................................www.jea.com

JTA .............................................................................................www.jtafla.com

National Hurricane Center............................................www.nhc.noaa.gov

National Weather Service (Jacksonville).....................www.srh.noaa.gov/jax

Accuweather .............................................................www.accuweather.com

Intellicast ..........................................................................www.intellicast.com

Weather Underground........................www.wunderground.com/tropical

Pet Friendly Lodging...............................................www.petswelcome.com

630-CITY(2489) provides a responsive and effective method of receiving requests for city services and providing information about those serv-ices, whether you contact us online or by phone. 630-CITY (2489) is the one number to call. Before contacting 630-CITY (2489), gather asmuch information as possible concerning your request or complaint. The information you provide will assist us in responding to your request.Request a service online by visiting 630CITY.coj.net. For emergencies, please remember to call 9-1-1.


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R E G I O N A L C O N T A C T I N F O R M A T I O N

Baker County

Clay County

Emergency Manager Adam Faircloth

Emergency Management Phone Number (904) 259-6111 or (904) 653-HELP (During Emergency)

Emergency Management Website www.bakerso.com/My-Baker_County_Sheriffs_Office/EOC.html

County Website www.bakercountyfl.org

Utilities Located In County Clay Electric, Florida Power & Light (FPL), Okefenoke Rural Electric

County Manager C.J. Thompson

Municipalities Glen St. Mary, Macclenny

Emergency Manager/Fire Chief Lorin Mock

Emergency Management Phone Number (904) 284-7703

Emergency Management Website www.claycountygov.com/public-safety/emergency-management

County Website www.claycountygov.com

Utilities Located In County Clay County Utility Authority, Clay Electric, Florida Power & Light

County Manager Stephanie C. Kopelousos

Municipalities Green Cove Springs, Keystone Heights, Orange Park, Penney Farms


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R E G I O N A L C O N T A C T I N F O R M A T I O N

Nassau County

St. Johns County

Emergency Manager Danny Hinson


Emergency Management Website www.nassaucountyfl.com/index.aspx?nid=370

County Website www.nassaucountyfl.com

Utilities Located In County Florida Power & Light (FPL), Florida Public Utilities, Nassau Utilities, Okefenokee Rural Electric

County Manager Ted Selby

Municipalities Callahan, Fernandina Beach, Hilliard

Emergency Manager Ray Ashton


Emergency Management Website www.sjcemergencymanagement.org

County Website www.co.st-johns.fl.us

Utilities Located In County Beaches Energy, City of St. Augustine Utilities, Florida Power & Light (FPL), JEA, St. Johns County Utilities

County Administrator Michael D. Wanchick

Municipalities Hastings, St. Augustine, St. Augustine Beach

News & Politics

Jacksonville 2013 Emergency Preparedness Guide